Stetson University’s Voice Area was well represented at the 58th National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) National Conference, held from June 28 to July 2 at the Knoxville Convention Center. The event attracted over 800 teachers and students from around the world. 

Stetson’s voice faculty members, Dr. Nathan Munson, Dr. Karen Coker-Merritt, and Dr. Chadley Ballantyne, attended along with alumna Alyson Culbertson (BMp ’23). Dr. Ballantyne and Culbertson co-presented a poster session titled “Antagonism in Voice Training: Muscle Pairs, Range of Motion, and Contrasting Sounds.” Their presentation focused on an approach to voice instruction that explores the relationships between opposing muscle groups to create ranges of motion in the voice. This method encourages guided self-discovery through contrasting sounds which motivate contrasting positions, movements, modes, and mechanisms in the singing instrument.

Additionally, Dr. Ballantyne presented another poster session, “Pure Sound vs. Rough Sensation: Sorting the Sensations of the Sung Tone.” This session highlighted his ongoing scholarship on the relationship between the senses of hearing and touch, the implications for singing, and how this understanding can refine teaching directives and improve the sorting of sensory experiences in voice training.